Marilyn Monroe graces the December cover of Playboy magazine. This past August marked the 50th anniversary of Marilyn’s death. The star died at the age of 36.

Marilyn was Playboy’s very first cover girl back in 1953. Today, Playboy celebrates Marilyn and her career, highlighting classic nude pictures of the late actress. Hugh Hefner explained, “She was most in control when she was in the nude. What would be a position of vulnerability for others was a position of power for her,” he said.